Foreign - Philippine News Agency

WHO to test 3 new drugs for Covid-19 treatment

2021-08-12T13:11:23+0800

The video screenshot taken on May 7, 2021 shows World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attending a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua)

GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday announced that it will test three new drugs for Covid-19, which will involve thousands of researchers at more than 600 hospitals in 52 countries.

According to a press release issued by WHO, the three new drugs are artesunate, a treatment for severe malaria; imatinib, a drug for certain cancers; and infliximab, a treatment for immune system disorders such as Crohn's Disease.

These therapies were selected by an independent expert panel for their potential in reducing the risk of death in hospitalized Covid-19 patients, and they were donated for the trial by their manufacturers, WHO said.

"Finding more effective and accessible therapeutics for Covid-19 patients remains a critical need, and WHO is proud to lead this global effort," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

In its previous efforts, WHO has tested four drugs, namely remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon, and the initial results showed that they had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with Covid-19. (Xinhua)

Global Covid-19 cases surpass 200M: Johns Hopkins University

2021-08-05T15:07:56+0800

GLOBAL CASES. A family member wearing a protective suit prays in front of the pyre to his relative before cremation at a crematorium in New Delhi, India on May 21, 2021. Global Covid-19 cases surpassed 200 million on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. (Xinhua/Partha Sarkar)

NEW YORK – Global Covid-19 cases surpassed 200 million on Wednesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The global case count reached 200,014,602, with 4,252,873 deaths worldwide, as of 3:21 p.m. local time (1921 GMT), showed the data.

The United States reported 35,292,721 cases and 614,666 deaths, both the highest counts around the world, accounting for nearly 18 percent of the global cases and nearly 15 percent of the global deaths.

India recorded the world's second largest caseload of 31,769,132, followed by Brazil with 19,985,817 cases as well as the world's second largest death toll of 558,432.

Countries with more than 4 million cases also include Russia, France, Britain, Turkey, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Italy and Iran, while other countries with over 100,000 deaths include India, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Britain, Italy, Colombia, France, Argentina and Indonesia, according to the university's tally.

The global caseload reached the grim milestone of 100 million on Jan. 26, and doubled in more than half a year. (Xinhua)

US rejects WHO call for booster shot moratorium as 'false choice'

2021-08-05T14:00:03+0800

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki (Anadolu photo)

WASHINGTON – The US rebuffed on Wednesday a call from the World Health Organization (WHO) to impose a worldwide coronavirus booster shot moratorium, saying it presents "a false choice."

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus earlier in the day urged the halt until at least the end of September to boost global equity and allow at least 10 percent of the population in every country to be vaccinated.

"To make that happen, we need everyone's cooperation, especially the handful of countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines," he said during a webinar in Geneva.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the Biden administration believes it can allot jabs for domestic booster shots should they be recommended by domestic health authorities while continuing its efforts to distribute vaccines worldwide.

"We believe we can do both, and we don’t need to make that choice," she said. "We will have enough supply to ensure that if the FDA decides that boosters are recommended for a portion of the population, to provide those as well."

Psaki was referring to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is currently reviewing Covid-19 vaccines to determine if it should update its guidance on the shots or grant full authorization.

Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are currently being distributed in the US under what is known as emergency use authorizations, and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel said in late July that it could not recommend boosters under current authorizations.

But the group voiced support for doing so among the immunocompromised.

The US announced Tuesday it has distributed more than 110 million vaccine doses to over 60 countries worldwide, calling it a "major milestone," and noting the total is more than all other countries' donations combined, according to UN data.

The majority of doses have been donated to African countries with other nations receiving a significant amount based on the number of Covid-19 cases.

Brazil has received 3 million vaccines, Argentina 3.5 million, Mexico 4 million and Bangladesh 5.5 million.

The administration also announced on Monday that current donations are "just the beginning" of the global effort and by the end of August it would start shipping a half-billion Pfizer doses the US pledged to buy and donate to 100 low-income countries. (Anadolu)

Fil-Indian philanthropist lauds Modi’s ‘decisive leadership’

2021-08-04T17:47:30+0800

Filipino-Indian philanthropist Majinder "James" Kumar (Contributed photo)

MANILA – Filipino Indian Commerce & Welfare Society Inc. (FICWSI) President Majinder "James" Kumar on Wednesday lauded the Indian government over the reorganization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) as a new union territory and the implementation of progressive laws and programs for its citizen.

At the same time, Kumar congratulated the people of J&K as they celebrate the second anniversary of the territory's reorganization on Aug. 5.

Kumar heads the FICSWI, a non-government business organization composed of Indian businessmen that is involved in charitable activities and outreach programs in the Philippines. The group has been extending relief aids in the country during calamities through "Project Helpline".

During the pandemic, Kumar and FICSWI helped in donating 'personal protective equipment (PPE) gears to various hospitals and the Philippine National Police.

The Fil-Indian philanthropist praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decisive leadership in implementing historic decisions for the betterment of the region and its inhabitants with the passing of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Under the law, Jammu and Kashmir was reconstituted into a separate union territory alongside Ladakh. Both are part of the larger region of Kashmir which has been the subject of a dispute between India, Pakistan and China since the mid-20th century.

"The reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of India's main laws and economic policy will not only bring development to the region but also a better quality of living to the people that really deserves it," Kumar said.

On August 5, 2019, the Rajha Sabha (Council of States) passed the law that revoked J&K special status. The passing of the law led J&K territory to be fully under India's Constitution. The national flag of India was also unfurled on all government buildings inside the territory.

Under the constitution, 890 central laws were applied to J&K, 2015 state laws were repealed and 130 state laws were modified and applied.

Kumar, a recipient of the Philanthropist of the year from Asia Leaders Awards of 2020, said the passing of the law gave J&K people "rights to weaker sections or tribes" such as protection of their lands; "rights to children and senior citizens" such as education, and welfare programs; laws for good governance; laws for grassroots democracy and the creation of new land laws.

"Since the reorganization of J&K, its people have already enjoyed various benefits that greatly helped in their economic status. Prime Minister Modi and the government of India has made a significant decision putting the country in greater heights," Kumar added.

Kumar was pertaining to the cash assistance benefitting 41,684 families living at the borders; 5,674 West Pakistani refugee families; 350,000 families living at international borders; and 44,000 Kashmiri migrant families.

"Not only that the Indian government gave J&K people cash assistance; they were also assured of job security; cessation of discrimination to all refugees, tribes and minorities; and the strengthening of grassroots democracy," Kumar said.

On October 24, 2019; J&K citizens participated for the first time in history in the election of Block Development Councils that registered a 98.3 percent voter turnout with 276 chairpersons elected.

Aside from securing jobs and gave rights to the people, infrastructure development also progressed in the region with 460 new government buildings constructed while 54 other projects are either finished or being completed. These include energy plants, water facilities, flyovers, tunnels, bridges, flood mitigation infrastructures, schools, and roads.

The people of J&K were also reintroduced to high-quality digital education with state of the art facilities and equipment while giving away more than 8 million scholarships to beneficiaries and a 59 percent increase on social security and pensions.

As the pandemic hit India hard, Kumar said that J&K was not left out by the government. In fact, 84 oxygen plants have been constructed in the territory as of July 2021; 4,291 Covid Care Centers were functional; and two 500 bed hospitals were set up.

Also, 85 percent of its healthcare workers have been vaccinated; 100 percent of the residents were given 1st dose vaccines; and 85,000 Covid management kits were provided, while food and cash reliefs were delivered.

"The people of J&K are blessed with the swift and sincere action of Prime Minister Modi in protecting the people despite India being hit hard by Covid-19 and the new Delta variant. Here in the Philippines, we are one with the government in calling for cooperation and discipline in fighting this pandemic in order for us to go back to our normal lives," Kumar stated.

With the development of J&K despite the pandemic, Kumar said he is ecstatic that the Philippines may replicate its success by developing other parts of the country and bring inclusive growth to all unrepresented Filipinos. (PR)

US supports Asean's principles on South China Sea

2021-08-04T17:31:25+0800

The online Asean-US Ministerial Meeting held Wednesday (August 4, 2021). (Photo courtesy of VNA/VNS)

HÀ NỘI–The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member countries and the United States on Wednesday affirmed their determination to work closely together to contribute to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including maritime security and safety in the South China Sea (East Sea).

Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn on Wednesday attended the online Asean-US Ministerial Meeting Conference, which was held within the framework of the ongoing 54th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Speaking at the conference, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration attached great importance to the strategic partnership with Asean, and supported its solidarity, unification, and Asean's perspective on the Indo-Pacific.

He said the US expected to promote a dynamic and effective strategic partnership with Asean on the basis of mutual respect, jointly building an open, inclusive and prosperous regional architecture.

The US Secretary of State affirmed the US will continue to take the lead in promoting multilateral cooperation in the response to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in an effort to increase production capacity and ensure an adequate, safe and effective vaccine supply.

The US has provided USD160 million and will continue to support countries in the region to respond to the pandemic. The US has also donated USD500,000 to the Covid-19 Asean Response Fund.

On behalf of Asean, as the coordinator of the Asean-US dialogue, the Lao Foreign Minister welcomed the US commitment to promote strong cooperation with Asean and the region.

He also said the bloc highly appreciated the US temporarily lifting the copyrights on vaccine production within the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.

Despite the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade turnover between Asean and the US reached USD308.3 billion in 2020, making the US the second-largest trading partner of Asean. At the same time, the United States still maintains its role as the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) investor with USD34.7 billion invested in Asean countries.

Asean countries expect the US will continue to provide support in the research, development, production and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. The United States also proposed strengthening cooperation in areas such as energy, transportation, women's empowerment, environment-climate change, and equitable and sustainable recovery.

Asean and the United States confirmed they would work closely to contribute in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region in the future, including maritime security and safety in the South China Sea (East Sea).

The United States emphasized its support for Asean's stance on the South China Sea (East Sea) issue, and welcomed Asean's role in promoting cooperation and dialogue, and building trust in the region, as well as ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Conduct in the East Sea (DOC).

The US also said it supports building an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Speaking at the conference, Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn welcomed the United States' extensive cooperation with Asean. The Minister emphasized the important role of the United States in global efforts to respond to Covid-19 and climate change and highly appreciated the US supply of vaccines to Asean countries, including Vietnam.

The Minister also suggested that the US support capacity building in preventive medicine for regional countries through the Regional Representative Office in Vietnam.

Asean is willing to create favorable conditions for US businesses to expand investment and business in the region and suggested that the United States continue to support Asean in narrowing the development gap, ensuring sustainable growth in Asean sub-regions, including the Mekong, through the framework of the Mekong-US Partnership.

Minister Sơn said he hoped that the United States would continue to play a constructive role and support Asean's efforts to maintain peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, as well as support Asean's efforts to find a solution to stabilize the situation in Myanmar.

At the end of the conference, Indonesia was officially transferred the coordination role of Asean-US relations for the period of 2021-2024. (VNS)

Requirements of masking, vaccination reinstated in US

2021-08-04T14:49:04+0800

A man receives Covid-19 test at a mobile testing site in Times Square, New York, the United States, on July 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK – Strict requirements of masking and vaccination have been reimposed by federal and municipal governments as well as business entities across the United States, as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is making a comeback with its Delta variant.

"The national outlook is worsening quickly, with a fourfold increase in new cases per day over the last month. Hospitalizations and deaths are also growing, but at far lower rates than cases," reported The New York Times (NYT) on Tuesday.

According to the figures updated on NYT's website, the country's new daily Covid-19 cases rose to 85,866 on Monday, while the 14-day change was a 142-percent increase.

The coronavirus deaths were 341 on Monday, while the 14-day change was a 27-percent rise.

"The United States has reached yet another turning point in this pandemic --one that may feel particularly unrelenting and confusing," reported National Public Radio (NPR) on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, described himself as being "very frustrated" over the current situation of the pandemic.

The United States was in an "unnecessary predicament" of soaring case counts, and was "going in the wrong direction," he said.

CDC indoor mask mandate

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated guidance to return to masking indoors despite vaccination status, after finding that even vaccinated individuals can spread the Delta variant of Covid-19, but the guidance is directed at regions with a spread of the virus that is considered "substantial" or "high."

"Unvaccinated people: get vaccinated and wear a mask until you do. Everyone in areas of substantial or high transmission should wear a mask, even if they are vaccinated," the CDC said in its latest post on Facebook.

The cases of Delta variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 are surging in the United States. New data show Delta is different from past versions of the virus --it is much more contagious. While rare, some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection and may be contagious, it added.

Across the country, the total Covid-19 cases have reached 35,170,544 while the total death stood at 614,020 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to figures updated by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Meanwhile, 70 percent of U.S. adults have had at least one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine, showed data published on Monday by the CDC.

The milestone came about a month behind U.S. President Joe Biden's Fourth of July goal.

NYC one step ahead

New York, ahead of most other American cities, will require people to show proof of vaccination for indoor activities, such as dining, gyms and events, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday, adding that the new policy will be phased in the coming weeks and implemented on Aug. 16.

By the week of Sept. 13, the city will begin inspections and enforcement.

The move is an effort to increase the number of people vaccinated, he said, adding “that is the key to protecting people and the key to recovery."

"The only way to patronize these establishments indoors will be if you're vaccinated, at least one dose," de Blasio said at a Tuesday morning press conference.

In contrast, New York State will not implement new statewide mask rules and leave the decisions on mask mandates to local governments.

However, Governor Andrew Cuomo has urged local officials to follow new guidance on masks from the CDC.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will require the agency's frontline healthcare workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19, making it the first federal agency to mandate compulsory inoculation.

Tech giants take precautions

Facebook will begin requiring all of its employees to wear masks when on its campuses in the United States, regardless of an employee's vaccination status. The new policy goes into effect on Wednesday and will remain in effect until further notice.

"The health and safety of our employees and neighbors in the community remains our top priority," a spokeswoman for the company said in a statement on Monday. "Given the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases, the newest data on Covid-19 variants, and an increasing number of local requirements, we are reinstating our mask requirement in all of Facebook's U.S. offices, regardless of an employee's vaccination status."

The company is not alone in the tech industry in reinstating health safety measures as Covid-19 cases pick up again as a result of the Delta variant.

Google last week announced that it will require employees on campus to be vaccinated and postponed its return to office plans until October.

Apple also pushed back its return to office plans to October at the earliest, according to a report last month.

Microsoft has informed employees that it will require proof of vaccination for anyone entering a Microsoft building in the United States starting in September.

Employees who have a medical condition or a protected reason that prevents them from getting a vaccine can get a special accommodation.

The company has also pushed its full office reopening date from September to "no earlier than Oct. 4, 2021."

Call for vaccination mandate

After more than 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic, a substantial chunk of the U.S. population continued to assert their own individual liberties over the common good by refusing masks or vaccination, which should be reversed as soon as possible, said USA Today on Tuesday.

Sociologists, legal scholars, public health experts and philosophers wonder at what point individual rights should yield to the public interest, the newspaper said in a report, referring to how many Covid-19 deaths can change the mind of these Americans.

"Today, millions of U.S. residents shun vaccines that have proven highly effective and resist masks that ward off infection, fiercely opposing government restrictions. Others clamor for regulation, arguing that those who take no precautions are violating their rights --threatening the freedom to live of everyone they expose," it added.

Also on Tuesday, The Washington Post quoted Joseph G. Allen, an associate professor and director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as saying that the U.S. vaccination campaign has hit a wall with its voluntary approach, and the only way out of the Covid-19 morass is to mandate vaccines.

The expert said U.S. hospitals and healthcare clinics must mandate vaccinations as nearly 60 top healthcare organizations called for in July.

Currently, only 45 percent of aides in long-term care and healthcare facilities are vaccinated, according to the CDC's figures. (Xinhua)

IMF approves historic $650-B SDR to boost liquidity amid pandemic

2021-08-03T20:08:25+0800

BOOSTING GLOBAL LIQUIDITY. Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), receives an interview with Xinhua during the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., the United States, on April 13, 2021. The board of governors of the IMF has approved a new general allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) equivalent to USD650 billion, the largest allocation in the Fund’s history, in an effort to particularly help the most vulnerable countries struggling to cope with the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis. (Kim Haughton/IMF/Handout via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON – The board of governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new general allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) equivalent to USD650 billion, the largest allocation in the IMF's history, in an effort to boost global liquidity amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, according to an IMF statement released Monday.

"This is a historic decision -the largest SDR allocation in the history of the IMF and a shot in the arm for the global economy at a time of unprecedented crisis," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.

Noting that the SDR allocation will benefit all IMF members, address the long-term global need for reserves, build confidence, and foster the resilience and stability of the global economy, Georgieva said it will particularly help the most vulnerable countries struggling to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

The approval came just weeks after the IMF executive board approved the proposal.

Final approval of the SDR allocation by the Board of Governors requires an 85-percent majority of the total voting power of all IMF members.

The SDR can be exchanged among governments for freely usable currencies in times of need.

The Chinese currency, renminbi, formally became the fifth currency in the SDR basket on Oct. 1, 2016, joining the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen, and the British pound.

The general allocation of SDRs will become effective on Aug. 23, according to the statement.

Georgieva said the IMF will also continue to engage actively with its membership to identify "viable" options for voluntary channeling of SDRs from wealthier to poorer and more vulnerable member countries to support their pandemic recovery and achieve resilient and sustainable growth.

One key option is for members that have strong external positions to voluntarily channel part of their SDRs to scale up lending for low-income countries through the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), the statement said, adding concessional support through the PRGT is currently interest free. (Xinhua)

Over 4.18-B coronavirus vaccine jabs administered worldwide

2021-08-03T08:53:34+0800

(Anadolu photo)

ANKARA – The number of Covid-19 vaccine shots administered worldwide crossed 4.18 billion on Monday, according to Our World in Data, a tracking website affiliated with Oxford University.

China, where the virus was first detected in late 2019, leads the count with more than 1.67 billion jabs, followed by India and the US with 472.22 million and 346.46 million, respectively.

Brazil has administered nearly 142.5 million vaccine shots, while the figure stands at 92.05 million in Germany.

Next on the list are Japan and the UK with 87.38 million and 85.2 million doses.

Turkey has administered over 73.6 million jabs and ranks eighth worldwide.

More than 41 million people have received their first doses in Turkey, and 27.5 million have been fully vaccinated.

As Covid-19 vaccines are generally given in two separate doses per person, the count of administered vaccines does not mean that the same number of people have been vaccinated.

The number of Covid-19 cases around the world is now over 198.3 million, including 4.22 million related deaths. (Anadolu)

100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard to go on trial

2021-08-02T13:23:38+0800

BERLIN – A 100-year-old former guard at the Sachsenhausen Nazi concentration camp near Germany’s capital Berlin will stand trial in the fall, local media reported Sunday.

The accused is scheduled to go on trial in October in Neuruppin, a town in the eastern state of Brandenburg, 76 years after the end of the Second World War, according to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

The defendant, who was not named for legal reasons, worked from 1942 to 1945 as a prison guard at Sachsenhausen, where more than 200,000 people were imprisoned and 20,000 murdered. (Anadolu)

Different levels of antibodies needed vs. coronavirus strains

2021-08-01T15:01:12+0800

(TASS photo)

MOSCOW – Levels of antibodies that are enough to protect a person against various novel coronavirus strains are different, and cannot be viewed as a reliable criterion when deciding whether a vaccination is needed or not, said Yekaterina Stepanova, a Russian infectious diseases specialist and a candidate of medical sciences.

"As preliminary research shows, various strains require various levels of antibodies. For example, [protection] against the South African strain requires a level of over 1,000 BAU/ml. The level for the delta strain is presumed to be even higher, at 1,500 BAU/ml," she said.

In her words, any level of antibodies shows that a person had been exposed to the infection. IgM antibodies in high numbers illustrate an acute phase of COVID-19. However, serum diagnostics cannot be 100% precise, and should not be viewed as an ultimate reason to skip vaccination.

"If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, I advise you to get the jab, regardless of whether you had fallen ill or not," she said.

She dismissed rumors about a certain "dangerous" level of antibodies, when vaccination is not advised.

"Covid patients are being treated with donor plasma, boosting the number of protective antibodies to speed up recovery. Therefore, there have been no evidence supporting this theory," she said.

"The same applies to the theory of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of the infection, according to which a virus can find its way into a cell quicker when it merges with antibodies. Again, the success of plasma therapy proves this is not possible for the time being," she said. (TASS)

Covid-19 spirals out of control in Asia-Pacific region

2021-08-01T12:08:18+0800

ANKARA – The number of daily coronavirus cases has increased in the vast majority of the Asia-Pacific region but it has become increasingly difficult to fight the pandemic in some countries.

Despite the rapid progress of vaccinations in India, Malaysia and Japan, the number of infections has increased in recent weeks. The slowness of vaccinations in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar has led to a rise in daily cases.

A total of 25 percent of the Indian population has received a first jab, while only 7 percent got the second dose. The number of daily cases exceeds 42,000 in the past three weeks.

Pakistan has administered more than 28 million vaccine jabs. The daily case figure hit 4,537 on July 29, the highest since April 30.

In Malaysia, 41 percent of the population received the first dose while 19 percent got the second dose. But the high rise in cases cannot be stopped. The daily cases have been more than 10,000 since July 3.

A total of 16 percent of the Indonesian population has received their first jab, while only 7 percent got the second dose. Daily infections are above 10,000 since June 17.

In Vietnam, just 5 percent of the population received the first and second doses. The average case count is 7,000 since July 24.

No data is available on the vaccination drive in Myanmar. Case numbers are in the four digits since June 28.

Australia and New Zealand are among countries where cases have not increased significantly in recent weeks in the region.

In Australia, where 32 percent of the population received the first dose and 14 percent received the second dose, Covid-19-related-deaths have been rare since October 2020.

In New Zealand, 23 percent of the population received the first dose and 15 percent received the second dose, while the number of daily cases has not exceeded 30 since the beginning of the year.

In Japan, 38 percent of the population received the first dose and 28 percent received the second dose. Daily infections peaked at 10,744 on July 30.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 4.21 million lives in 192 countries and regions, with more than 197.52 million cases reported, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University. (Anadolu)

Over 4B coronavirus vaccine jabs administered worldwide

2021-07-29T20:47:29+0800

ANKARA – Over four billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered worldwide, with Turkey ranking among the top 10 countries in the total number jabs given, according to Our World in Data, a tracking website affiliated with Oxford University.

China leads the global count with over 1.6 billion jabs, followed by India with 450.71 million.

Mostly the Western countries appeared at higher ranks, with the US having administered 343.36 million shots, Brazil 137.88 million, Germany 91 million, the UK 84.3 million, and Japan 82.59 million.

Turkey ranked eighth globally with now over 70.66 million doses, followed by France, Italy, and Indonesia.

Most Covid-19 vaccines are administered in two doses, so the number of shots given is not the same as the number of individuals fully vaccinated.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 4.20 million lives across the world, with more than 196 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US’ Johns Hopkins University. (Anadolu)

Thailand registers record number of daily Covid-19 deaths

2021-07-29T17:26:53+0800

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Thailand registered a record number of daily coronavirus fatalities Thursday as 165 people died over the past day, taking the country’s death toll to 4,562.

Cases also jumped to a new single-day high of 17,669 in the last 24 hours as the more infectious Delta variant drives a surge in the country, pushing the nationwide count to 561,030.

The number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asian countries continued to rise Wednesday as total infections surpassed 7 million, including 136,225 fatalities and more than 5.6 million recoveries, according to official figures.

Meanwhile, the number of active cases among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states stands at 1,147,747.

Indonesia recorded the highest number of infections with 3,287,727, including 88,659 deaths, followed by the Philippines with 1,566,667 cases and 27,401 fatalities.

Malaysia came in third with a total of 1,061,476 cases, including 8,551 deaths.

Laos also recorded a single-day spike Wednesday with 280 cases, raising the toll to 5,434, while Brunei Darussalam remains the country with the lowest number of infections with 333 cases registered so far.

Countries in the region have administered more than 146 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, according to figures released Wednesday. (Anadolu)

Tokyo's virus cases surge to record high just days into Olympics

2021-07-28T14:42:00+0800

ANKARA – Coronavirus cases in Tokyo have shot up to a record high just four days after the start of the Olympics, local media reported on Tuesday.

Japan’s capital reported 2,848 new cases – its highest daily figure to date – as a wave of infections driven by the contagious Delta variant shows no signs of abating despite the imposition of a state of emergency, according to a report by Kyodo News.

The nationwide daily count was also above 7,000 for the first time since May 12, inching closer to Japan’s all-time high of about 8,000 seen in January.

Infections have also been mounting in the provinces neighboring Tokyo, such as Kanagawa and Chiba, the report added.

“We’re concerned about the rise in people in serious condition,” said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, adding that efforts were being made to “secure more hospital beds for Covid-19 patients.”

Experts are warning that the Delta strain, which was first detected in India, may cause an alarming surge in cases that could peak around Aug. 3, five days before the Olympics end, the report said.

The number of Covid-19 cases at the Games has risen to 155 after seven more people, including two foreign athletes, tested positive for the virus.

Japan’s overall tally now stands at 875,506, including 15,137 deaths, according to official figures. (Anadolu)

EU meets 70% vaccination target by July

2021-07-28T13:20:27+0800

BRUSSELS – The European Union reached its target of vaccinating 70 percent of its adult population with at least one jab by July, the bloc’s top official confirmed on Tuesday.

“The EU has kept its word and delivered,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, announced in a video statement.

At least 57 percent of adults have already been fully vaccinated, she added.

Von der Leyen also warned of the dangers of the highly contagious Delta variant and urged everyone who has not been inoculated yet to get their jabs.

The European Commission set in March the objective to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population -- a minimum to reach herd immunity -- by July.

The jabs were provided in the framework of bloc’s advanced purchase agreements with six vaccine producers -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CureVac, Johnson & Johnson, and Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline -- to buy about 2.6 billion vaccine doses.

In addition, the European Commission agreed with Pfizer/BioNTech to purchase another 1.8 billion doses for 2022 and 2023. (Anadolu)

Delta variant poses increasing threat to unvaccinated Americans

2021-07-24T13:48:08+0800

A man receives the Covid-19 test at a mobile testing site in Times Square, New York, the United States, on July 20, 2021.(Xinhua/Wang Ying)

WASHINGTON – Covid-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continue to surge among the unvaccinated across the United States, fueled by the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

More than 91 million people live in a county considered to have high Covid-19 transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And 48 states have a seven-day average of new cases at least 10 percent higher than the week before, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were all up double digits in recent weeks as Delta spreads across the United States.

Currently, about 40 percent of new Covid-19 cases came from Florida, Texas, and Missouri, according to the White House.

Florida takes the lead in new coronavirus infections, and state hospitals have reported a record number of Covid-19 patients.

Health experts blame the recent surges in Covid-19 cases on the low vaccination rates and the accelerating Delta variant transmission.

Los Angeles County officials said about 98 percent of those hospitalized in the last six months were unvaccinated people, adding Delta is a "game-changer" as cases now rise among the vaccinated.

On Wednesday, the county reported a 20-fold increase in new cases over the previous month, according to the public health department.

About 48.8 percent of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and 56.4 percent of the population has received at least one shot as of Thursday, according to CDC data.

Slow vaccinations across the United States have ignited debate over mandated mask-wearing and vaccinations.

Experts said with the highly contagious Delta variant spreading, particularly among unvaccinated Americans, it may be time for much of the country to put masks back on.

Los Angeles County reinstated a mask mandate last weekend, requiring masking indoors regardless of vaccination status. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said other areas may have to follow.

"In areas where there are low numbers of vaccinated people, or where cases are rising, it's very reasonable for counties to take more mitigation measures like the mask rules you see coming out in LA, and I anticipate that will happen in other parts of the country," Murthy told ABC. (Xinhua)

Jailed adviser of Myanmar's Suu Kyi dies of Covid-19

2021-07-21T19:29:00+0800

(Photo courtesy of Anadolu)

JAKARTA, Indonesia –A senior adviser to Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was imprisoned since the Feb. 1 military coup, has died of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) on Tuesday, his party said.

Nyan Win, 78, died at a hospital where he was shifted last week from Yangon’s Insein Prison, the National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement.

“We vow to continue to fight for our unfinished work to end the dictatorship in this country and to form a Federal Democratic Union,” the party said.

The State Administration Council -- the name used by the military government -- said the politician died of complications caused by diabetes and hypertension, stressing that Myanmar’s prisons are equipped to treat Covid-19 patients.

According to the military junta, 375 inmates have been infected with Covid-19 in jails to date and six had died before Nyan Win.

UN officials have warned of an alarming spike in infections and deaths in Myanmar as a collapsing healthcare system deepens the crisis.

Daily virus fatalities hit a record high of 281 on Tuesday, while 5,189 new cases pushed the overall count closer to 235,000, according to data from the junta-controlled Health Ministry.

Some 400,000 people could lose their lives to Covid-19 if no immediate action is taken to curb the virus’ spread in Myanmar, Zaw Wai Soe, health minister of the United National Government, the shadow government set up by opponents of the military junta, said in a statement late on Tuesday.

Just about 1.6 million of Myanmar’s 54 million people have been vaccinated so far, with the country aiming to cover half of the population this year.

Some 750,000 Chinese vaccine doses are due to arrive on Thursday and more will follow over the coming few days, the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported.

Killings, arrests by Myanmar junta

At least 922 people have been killed by Myanmar’s military since it seized power on Feb. 1, according to an update by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) released late on Tuesday.

As of July 20, a total of 5,315 people have been arrested since the coup, with 255 sentenced in person and 26 sentenced to death, including two children, the report said. (Anadolu)

Delta variant accounts for 83% of US Covid cases as deaths rise

2021-07-21T13:58:52+0800

CHICAGO, United States – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that the Delta variant of the coronavirus accounts for 83 percent of new cases, up significantly from two weeks ago as deaths spike.

As of July 3, the variant, considered more easily transmissible and virulent than the original coronavirus, accounted for 50 percent of new cases.

"This is a dramatic increase," said CDC head Rochelle Walensky in an update to Congress. "In some parts of the country, the percentage is even higher, particularly in areas of low vaccination rates."

Walensky said the average daily death count has climbed to about 239 per day, an increase of nearly 48 percent from the previous week.

"Each death is tragic, and even more heartbreaking when we know the majority of these deaths could be prevented with a simple, safe, available vaccine,” she said.

Hospitalizations are on the rise in 37 states, and Walensky said it was the goal of the Biden administration to reach populations where resistance to the vaccines is highest, in communities of color and rural communities.

Testifying alongside Walensky, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist and top health advisor to President Joe Biden, got into a heated exchange with Republican Senator Rand Paul.

Paul claims the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded so-called "gain-of-function" research at the Wuhan laboratory that is suspected of playing a role in the coronavirus outbreak.

Gain-of-function research could theoretically be used to make the virus more transmissible.

Fauci had previously testified to Congress that the NIH never funded that kind of research but Paul accused Fauci of lying.

"Senator Paul," Fauci shot back, "I have never lied before the Congress and I do not retract that statement."

The two talked over each other, with an exasperated Fauci saying, "Senator Paul, you do not know what you are talking about ... I resent the lie you are now propagating. If anyone is lying here, it is you." (Anadolu)

PH important, trustworthy partner of Vietnam: PM

2021-07-20T18:09:06+0800

TRUSTWORTHY PARTNER. Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (center) talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the phone late Monday (July 19, 2021). Chính affirmed that the Philippines is always an important and trustworthy partner that shares many concerns and strategic interests with Vietnam. (VNS photo)

HANOI – Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính spoke with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the phone late Monday, affirming that the archipelago nation is always an important and trustworthy partner that shares many concerns and strategic interests with Vietnam.

Chính said relations between Vietnam and the Philippines have been consistently growing throughout the past 45 years, since diplomatic ties were established on July 12, 1976.

Duterte noted that the Philippine government and its people have consistently treasured and worked to develop the countries’ strategic partnership, and they appreciate Vietnam’s meaningful assistance in the recent past, including providing medical supplies for the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The two leaders agreed to work closely to promote relations in all aspects, with focus on implementing the plan of action for 2019-2024, carrying out activities marking the 45th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relationship, enhancing cooperation in security and defense and trade and investment, and creating favorable conditions for and encouraging enterprises to invest and do business in the sectors matching the countries’ potential and strength.

Chính highlighted Vietnam’s readiness to continue ensuring stable and long-term rice supply for the Philippines, asking to further open its market to food and agricultural products from Vietnam.

The leaders also agreed to consider expanding cooperation to new areas amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as digital transformation, digital economy, e-commerce, and green economy.

They also shared the view that vaccine is an important strategy in response to the pandemic and work towards sustainable socio-economic recovery.

The Vietnamese prime minister said the two sides should cooperate more actively to secure equal access to vaccine sources, an idea highly valued by Duterte.

Regarding regional and international issues, both agreed their countries would strengthen ties and support each other at multilateral mechanisms like the United Nations and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

They also agreed to work closely to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

The leaders shared the view on the importance of continuing to maintain Asean solidarity and principles relevant to the East Sea issue.

They affirmed the close coordination of their stances and viewpoints to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate the negotiation on a Code of Conduct (COC) on the waters between Asean and China to achieve an effective and substantive COC that accords with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, thereby helping to sustain regional peace and stability.

On this occasion, Duterte invited Chính to pay an official visit to the Philippines. The Vietnamese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure. (VNS)

Fewer women than men to regain employment during Covid recovery

2021-07-20T14:38:04+0800

GENEVA – Inequalities between women and men in the job market that have been exacerbated due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic will persist and there will be 13 million fewer women employed in 2021 than in 2019, while men’s employment will have succeeded in recovering, an International Labor Organization (ILO) report projected Monday.

“Even though the projected jobs growth in 2021 for women exceeds that of men, it will, nonetheless, be insufficient to bring women back to pre-pandemic employment levels,” the ILO report says.

Only 43.2 percent of the world’s working-age women will have employment in 2021 compared to 68.6 percent of working-age men.

The ILO report is titled ‘Building Forward Fairer: Women’s rights to work and at work at the core of the Covid-19 recovery’ and gives “short-term” projections.

“Domestic violence and work-related gender-based violence and harassment worsened during the pandemic, further undermining women’s ability to engage in paid employment,” the report says.

It shows that women have suffered disproportionate job and income losses due to their over-representation in the hardest-hit sectors, such as accommodation and food services and the manufacturing sector.

Globally, between 2019 and 2020, women’s employment declined by 4.2 percent, representing a drop of 54 million jobs, while men’s employment declined by 3 percent or 60 million jobs.

Not the same everywhere

It was not the same in all regions, however.

The Americans experienced the most significant reduction in women’s employment due to the pandemic (a decrease of 9.4 percent).

The second-highest drop in the number of employed women was seen in the Arab states, where between 2019 and 2020, women’s employment declined by 4.1 percent and men’s by 1.8 percent.

In the Arab states, despite favorable prospects for women’s employment in 2021, women continue to be five times less likely to be in work than men.

In Asia and the Pacific, the pandemic led women’s employment to decrease by 3.8 percent compared to a decline of 2.9 percent for men.

In Europe and Central Asia, women’s employment was curtailed by 2.5 percent, while men faced a 1.9-percent decrease.

In Africa, men’s employment experienced the smallest decline across all geographic regions, with just a 0.1-percent drop between 2019 and 2020, while women’s employment decreased by 1.9 percent.

“During the pandemic, women faired considerably better in countries that took measures to prevent them from losing their jobs and allowed them to re-enter employment as early as possible,” the ILO said.

For example, the report cites Chile and Colombia where wage subsidies were applied to new hires, with higher subsidy rates for women.

Colombia and Senegal were among those that created or strengthened support for women entrepreneurs.

The report recommends investing in the care economy because the health, social work and education sectors are essential for jobs, especially for women. (Anadolu)